Flat Feet

Flat feet is a condition where the patient’s foot arch is flattened. This is a common condition and may not even cause discomfort to the patient. It has no affect on how fast a person runs. Flat feet can be caused by improper development,can worsen during pregnancy, or develop with age. However, not all cases are due to pregnancy or found in older patients. It is actually fairly common to see flat feet in children. In some cases flat feet will cause the ankle to turn inwards and can affect the knees or ankles. There are several corrective devices that can prevent, and in mild cases correct the complications that are derived from flat feet. Supportive shoes help lessen the problems associated with flat feet.

Picture of Flat feet

Flat Feet Pain

Symptoms of flat feet include:

One or both feet having a flat appearance to them

The uneven wearing of shoes in the arch support area.

Pains in the calf or lower leg.

Pain and swelling of the ankle area typically on the inside of the ankle.

General foot pain and discomfort especially after long walks or standing for long durations

The Causes of Flat Feet

The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and over one hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons. This intricate structure must align to form the arch in the foot.The purpose of the arch is to distribute body weight evenly across the foot.

In infants flat feet is often prevalent, due to the baby fat in the foot area,however they foot should develop normally. In some cases the arch does not fully develop, this can be caused by wearing close toed shoes while the foot is developing,or can occur naturally. Typically, in cases where flat feet affect younger children,children will start to walk oddly. The longer they walk the more pronounced the problem may become. Often these children will have a limp or perhaps walk on the outside of their foot. Studies have shown that going barefoot during the development stages of childhood will help the arch of the foot develop correctly.If a child complains about having pains in the foot or calf area this could be a result of flat feet.

In the adult stages of life flat feet can be developed from injury, aging, prolonged stress in the foot, obesity, certain types of arthritis or can form during pregnancy. Besides corrective devices there is very little one can do after the foot is fully developed, however if the foot has not finished growing there is always a chance that an arch will naturally develop.

Flat feet problems can also contribute to other foot problems. Shin splints,bunions, hammertoes can be formed because of the pressure of the weight of the body not being distributed evenly. Arthritis, Achilles tendonitis and inflammation of ligaments can occur because of misplaced pressure due to less support in the foot. Problems can occur in other areas of the body besides just the feet and ankles however, because it disrupts the entire alignment of the body.

Flat Feet Treatment

In many cases, flat feet will not cause any significant symptoms to occur, however if the disorder does cause discomfort there are many ways to reduce the pain. Dr. Mechanik can help determine the best course of action. Some of the treatments of flat feet include custom designed arch supports or orthotics for flat feet, the avoidance of prolonged activity along with rest, certain pain relievers, a wedge that adds support to the arch of the foot, weight loss and in certain cases where a tendon has been damaged, surgery.

HyProCure is minimally invasive procedure that helps patient’s with flat feet. Down time is minimal. Not everyone with flat feet are candidates for the HyProCure surgery. It is important to talk with Dr. Mechanik early on, if you are having symptoms. Every patient is different and unique. He will evaluate your feet and work with you to create a solution that is tailored to the severity of your condition.

Seek advice from Dr. Mechanik to try and help correct the problem quickly and prevent further damage to tendons and joints.

Let Us Help You

As Director of the Colorado Foot Institute,Dr. Mechanik is Board Certified in Foot Surgery and Board Certified in Reconstructive RearFoot and Ankle surgery. He has the medical and surgical skills to treat your foot conditions. He and his family are natives of the Denver area.

Dr. Mechanik received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from the the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine which is part of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, a national leader in medical education.

Dr. Mechanik then went on to completed twenty-four month post-graduate Residency training program in Foot and Ankle Surgery and completed a twenty-four month Fellowship surgical training program in Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Surgery.

Dr. Mechanik is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a Diplomate, American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is dual Board Certified in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery.

You can schedule an appointment by calling our office at 303-333-3383 or go to the ‘Schedule Appointments’ tab on the top of this page.